The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-23
HARRINGTON'S FATE.
Doubt as to the Manner of His Death-Talk
About Custer.

Doubt as to the Manner of His Death-TaIk
About Custer.
New York World.
The dispatch from Harrisburg giving the views
of Major Reno in regard TO the fate of Lieuten-
ant Harrington and the conduct OF General Gus
ter and his men when attacked by the Indians
under Sitting Bull evoked considerable COM
ment among military men and civilians. Lieu
tenant Harrington was one of four officers whose
bodies were not Identified after the battle. The
other three officers were Lieutenants Porter and
Sturges, and Assistant Surgeon Lord. All these
were reported missing. on account of non-identi-
fcarIon. although no doubt whatever was enter
tanned that they had persisted in the battle.
Major Reno now says that after the battle he
saw through his field glass the Indians several
were fastened to stakes. One of these captives
he believed to be Harrington, and thinks he was
burned at the stake. He adds that Custer did
not act In a gallant manner, aud that many of
his men were shot in the back while flying from
the Indians.
Reno's charge of cowardice against General
Custer and his men was much talked of yester-
day. It does not agree with the official reports
at the time. General Terry. after visiting the
scene of the battle, said: There is abundant ev
idence that q gallant resistance was offered by
the troops, bat they were beset on all sides by
overwhelmine numbers" All reports in regard
to the conflict substantially agree with that of
General Terry. There is no doubt that much of
the time the troops wero in retreat, but they
were defending themselves calamity.
The reports of the battle show that the uni
forms of Lieutenauts Sturges and Porter were
cred of Lieutenant Harrington and Assistant
surgeon Lord; and this lends some color to the
statement of Major Reno that Harm gton may
have been one of the victims whom he saw at
the stake the Indians dancing around them On
the other hand, these captives may have been
scouts or stragglers
THAT Harrington persisted with his COM
rades," said Claude Berard. Mrs. Harrineton's
brother World reporter, yesterday, "none
of except Mrs. Harrington ever entertained
the slightest doubt, and her impression on the
GalusiOn. Fac
that the body was not identified the field
have never regarded of any consequence. as
large number of bodies were SO mutilated as to
be beyond Identification. The Indians, accord
ing captives, and the soldiers We're evidently de-
termined to die rather than be captured. 1t
was not battle for cap:ives; it
was fight TO the death 1t IS
diers may have been carried off for q worse fate.
but it is not probable. It is much more likely
that stragglers scouts captured at q distance
from the main body might have been made the
victims of Indian deviltry.
''As for nv sister. her devotion to her children
was too great for her TO remain away from them.
and this is one reason that renders it doubly GER
tain that she has persisted. reward of 5000
was offered for Information that would lead to
her recovery, but there has been no demand for
It, do expect any. When she disappeared
she was dressed in dark-green plaid, long black
cloak with fur collar, fur-trimmed turban. and
wore chased ring engraved. Harry to Grace
The ring was GIFT from her husband, and she
always treasured it a memento Of her hus-
band.
Certainly" said Mr. Berard 'if the military
reports had not stated that Lieutenant Harrine
ton was missing, do not think my sister would
have cherished the delusion she did. At first
there was no evidence that captlves had not
been taken but when the public generally be-
came convinced that none had escaped death. the
impression To the contrary had become too firm
ly fixed in Mrs. Harrington's mind to be re-